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Using a Chamber of Commerce To Grow Your Network and Your Practice

Using a Chamber of Commerce To Grow Your Network and Your Practice. Laurie Wieder President Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce. What is a Chamber of Commerce?. Mission: To Promote A Strong Business Environment Help Individual Businesses Grow

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Using a Chamber of Commerce To Grow Your Network and Your Practice

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  1. Using a Chamber of CommerceTo Grow Your Network and Your Practice Laurie Wieder President Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce

  2. What is a Chamber of Commerce? • Mission: • To Promote A Strong Business Environment • Help Individual Businesses Grow • A Place to Network – Events, Events, Events! • A Place to Make Connections – Through Events and Activities, With Other Businesses • A Place to Demonstrate Leadership

  3. Informal Survey . . . • Member of a Chamber? • Attend Events? • Participate in a Committee? • Serve on the Board of Directors? • Examples • Perceived Benefits

  4. The Chamber Environmentin the Greater Washington Area • 16 Virginia Chambers • 2 District Chambers • 9 Maryland Chambers Washington is an Association Town!

  5. The Decision to Join • What’s your Goal? • Reach your Target Market • Develop a New Market • Build Relationships with fellow Professionals • Reach Decision-Makers • Make a Difference in your Community • Research • Visit Websites • Experience an event, committee meeting • Speak with members • Speak with Chamber staff

  6. The Decision to Join • Once you’ve seen one Chamber, you’ve seen one Chamber! • Focus: Economic Development, Advocacy, Small Business Programs, Networking, Community Outreach, Tourism • Are events well attended? • Is involvement encouraged? • Dues cost? • Sponsorship Opportunities? • Consider Joining More than One Chamber!

  7. Things to Consider • The Membership • How large – size can equal diversity • Business scope – localized or regional • Is your existing market among the membership? • Is a target market among the membership? • Do you want to increase your business in a geographic area? • Are their members with which you can partner? • Can members help you reach decision-makers?

  8. Things to Consider • The Programming • Business Resources • Industry Councils • Openness to Service • Board Possibilities

  9. You’ve Become a Member • Orientation • Individual Consultation with Staff • Develop an Involvement Plan • Based on Your Goals • Based on Chamber Programming

  10. Your Involvement Plan • Committees – Service, Recognition, Credibility • Business Consulting to fellow members • Expertise Sharing with Chamber organization • Events • Presentation Possibilities • Expertise Sharing through Planning • Visibility – Sponsorships • Highlight yourself before your target market • Displays • Verbal advertisements

  11. The Prince William Chamber:A Case Study • Three Line of Business Committees • Business Growth • Public Policy • Quality of Life

  12. The Prince William Chamber:A Case Study • Support Committees • Ambassadors • Programs • Strategic Planning • Finance

  13. The Prince William Chamber:A Case Study • Business Councils • 11 Industries • We segment for you!

  14. The Prince William Chamber:A Case Study • Events • Signature Events • Monthly Membership Luncheons • Special Events – Trade Shows, Golf Tournaments • Pure Networking – Business Before/After Hours • Brown Bag Luncheons • You speak • You learn • You sponsor • Committee/Council Meetings

  15. The Prince William Chamber:A Case Study • How to Network • Practice your “elevator speech” • Bring plenty of business cards • Set a goal • Arrive early • Survey the room • The “approach” – ask questions first • Don’t sell – build the relationship • Trade cards • Agree to follow up • Go on to the next person

  16. The Prince William Chamber:A Case Study • Sponsorship Opportunities • Mailers • Ribbon Cuttings • Displays • Event Sponsorships – Table to “Named” • High Level Sponsorship Programs – Chamber Partners, Vision Sponsors • You Achieve Name Recognition, Visibility

  17. The Prince William Chamber:A Case Study • Leadership Opportunities • Committee Involvement • Sharing Your Expertise • Committee Leadership • Business Council Leadership • Board Service • Executive Committee Service • You Make Contacts, Gain Access

  18. The Self-Serving Membership You Deserve to Benefit Involvement that Benefits You Benefits the Organization

  19. Top Chamber Pointers • Define Your Goals • New Business Clients • Professional Growth • Community Outreach • Research Chambers and pick one or more • Identify involvement “fits” • Chose 1-2 committees • Commit to attend 2 events monthly • Identify sponsorships • Consider leadership • Assess and Redefine: Achievement, New Goals

  20. Thank You! QUESTIONS DISCUSSION

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